If you think you might have gingivitis, you’re not alone. It’s the most common form of gum disease and left unchecked, it can progress and turn into periodontitis, which is more difficult to treat. That’s why in this post, we’ll talk about how to reverse gingivitis.
In this post, we’ll discuss what gingivitis is and what symptoms it can cause. Then, we’ll talk about what you can do to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy and protected against disease.
Gingivitis: The Beginning of Gum Disease
Normal, healthy gums have a firm texture and a healthy coral color. Even if the color is not necessarily the same for everyone, color uniformity is important. They form a tight, thin edge where they meet each of the teeth and don’t hurt when they’re probed with a finger.
Gingivitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the gums or gingiva. Therefore, it has symptoms that demonstrate the classic signs of inflammation. As a result, if you have gingivitis, you might experience swollen, bright red gums that bleed when you brush or floss. Also, they might be tender or even painful to touch with your finger.
These puffy, swollen gums are being stretched to their limits because of inflammation. But why is all of this happening?
Well, the cause of gingivitis is usually the presence and accumulation of bacterial plaque. This plaque is a sticky film of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. It accumulates on the surfaces of your teeth and gets into the minute crevices in between them. You disrupt the accumulation of this film and clean it away every time you brush and (especially) floss. But in cases of neglected oral hygiene, this film can collect below the gum line, causing the body’s immune system to respond to the bacteria.
How To Reverse Gingivitis
Fortunately, reversing gingivitis is relatively easy. As always, the best way is to maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine. This means you should brush for two minutes twice a day, floss regularly, and avoid sugary foods. This keeps plaque formation under control, and bacteria in the mouth no longer proliferate enough to infiltrate the gums.
Also, you can use special mouthwashes with chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, or saline. Special kinds of toothpaste are available with triclosan, an antifungal and antibacterial agent. Your dentist may give you strong, prescription-strength versions depending on your needs.
However, for particularly advanced cases of periodontal disease, procedures such as scaling and root planing are effective treatments, although they’re only recommended when necessary. A dentist thoroughly cleans the teeth of any tartar and plaque buildup down to the roots of the teeth. They then smooth out the roots to make the surfaces more difficult for bacteria to adhere to.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful to you. Remember, it’s always best to refer to a qualified dental professional. They can give you the best individual advice about how to reverse gingivitis and restore your teeth and gums to their natural, healthy condition.
At Champions Dental, we offer a first-class dental experience to all of our patients. With more than 15 years of experience, we pride ourselves on helping everyone maintain excellent oral health and a radiant smile. We also use the most advanced treatment techniques to offer an unmatched level of care in Houston, TX. So, if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, we’d love to see you! Please give us a call at (281) 866-0442.